Finnish defenseman Anssi Salmela has impressed Devils management so much during training camp that he appears to have earned a spot among the club's top six defensemen and not just as the extra man.

Coach Brent Sutter wasn't ready to state definitively that Salmela has secured a spot on the NHL roster, but it sounds that way.

"Let's say this," Sutter said. "He's certainly high in the mix. I don't think it's any hidden secret he's played almost every exhibition game for a reason. He's deserved to play and he's warranted the ice time that he's gotten. And he' s another guy who improves our power play.

"If we thought he wasn't capable of playing here regularly, development would be the right thing for him because it's his first year over here. Every day he's gotten better. He's adjusted to a lot of things here very quickly."

Fedor Fedorov was not among the players the Devils placed on waivers Friday, but the smooth-skating forward has only until tomorrow to interest another NHL club in his services.

"We've still given his agent time to do something," general manager Lou Lamoriello said. "If he doesn't do something, he'll go on waivers Monday."

It's likely Fedorov will return to Russia if he does not interest another NHL team.

Lamoriello said the Devils did not lose any players yesterday via waivers.

That pleased Sutter.

"You never know what teams are looking at," Sutter said. "I'm glad it's over. It's a settling feeling to know you have that depth. Not just depth as far as numbers, but depth as far as leadership."

Defenseman Jay Leach, who cleared waivers and played in last night's preseason finale against the Flyers, will be assigned to Lowell (AHL) this weekend.

Petr Vrana must also clear waivers if the Devils decide to send him down, but the forward has played well enough during the preseason to perhaps win a spot on the NHL roster. Neither Rod Pelley nor Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond have to clear waivers to be sent down.

Defenseman Mike Mottau had hoped to play Saturday, but his illness this week required another day of rest. Left winger Mike Rupp also got the night off because of an ugly-looking left eye. He required several stitches in his eyebrow when he was hit by a Jeremy Colliton stick during Friday night's preseason game against the Islanders. He also had a bloodshot, black-and-blue eye from his midweek fight with Mitch Fritz.